Guangzhou: China's dancers shimmied their way to a clean sweep of 10 gold medals on Sunday as the discipline made its Asian Games debut.
Wearing tight pants and sequined gowns, the Chinese participants whipped up local crowds to a frenzy with sizzling victories in a range of styles including the waltz, tango, foxtrot, Latin Jive, samba and Cha-cha-cha.
"I never thought we would get 10 gold medals with South Korea and Japan being so strong," said Shi Lei who snared two golds in the Latin Cha-cha-cha and Latin five dances.
While western dance was popular in places like Shanghai in the 1930s, its influence waned under the Communists until the country began opening up in the 1980s. There are now an estimated 30 million enthusiasts who take part in dance sports across China.
On many levels, including movement, body lines, rhythmic interpretation and footwork, the Chinese shone brightest.
"This defines China's (dance) status in Asia and the international arena," said Chen Shiyao who won gold in Latin Jive. "There will be more professional as well as amateur dancers from now on."
Japan, where ballroom dancing is wildly popular, had been expected to win a brace of medals but brother and sister team Rara and Yumiya Kubota had to settle for silver in the Latin fives and bronze in the Latin Jive.
Among the gold medallists was Wu Zhian in the slow foxtrot who was made to dance when he was seven-years old to help his asthma and was sent by his parents to England to develop his passion.
"Every class costs 2,000 yuan ($300). My husband and I had to scrimp and save to send my son to the UK," said Deng Hongni, his mother, in an interview with a Chinese newspaper.
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